Terriers (Earth dogs) - Terriers are high energy dogs bred for the hunting and killing of rats, mice, foxes and other small to medium sized animals that are reguarded as pests or vermin in relation to human activities, especially farming activities. They are very active dogs with strong prey drive directed to small and medium sized furry animals. Their behavioral profile includes a strong drive to dig because the animals they are targeted on to hunt retreat to burrows. Terriers were expected to follow them into the burrow and to have the feistyness, energy and pluck (courage) to fight the cornered prey in these close quarters. This fiestyness and courage combined with their well developed sense of territory means that they are often intolerant of other dogs.
They are active little dogs and frequently come with wire texture coats which leads them to have 'cute faces'. Their livelyness, lack of fear and alertness makes them relatively easy to motivate in situations such as being a canine actor so they are frequently present on TV shows and in the movies. A lot of terriers end up being given up by novice owners who were attracted to the small size thinking they were getting a companion-temperament dog rather than an active small hunter with strong territorial desires. Before getting a terrier, thoroughly investigate the breed in question! The small terriers are one of the best examples of the observations that NOT ALL SMALL DOG BREEDS HAVE THE COMPANION DOG PERSONALITY.
The hunting terriers are encountered in a range of body forms from long headed, square built dogs to long headed, short legged dogs for following prey into their burrows. The bull (short) headed terriers are considered under Bull Breeds in our classification.